“B-because …” She paused. The seconds ticked on. My heart beat rapidly in my chest and I had to bite the shit out of my tongue to keep from barking out, demanding immediate answers. That was my usual way, but I wasn’t looking to scare her. I could already hear the fear in her voice.
“It’s your job,” she blurted out.
My frown deepened and I scowled. “My job?”
“I saw you today. You were hanging from a thirty story building, suspended by a rope. I nearly passed out. That’s what you do for a living. Everyday your life’s on the line. And i-it would be one thing if it was just me, but it’s not. I can’t put D-Diego in a position to be hurt.” Her voice was low. The words she was saying made sense but they made absolutely no sense to me. Sure, she’d expressed concerns and fears about my job. She often asked about my squad’s contingency plans for rescues and all of that. I’d patiently answered all of her questions to reassure her. Yes, my job could be dangerous but we were the best and took precautions at every turn.
“You want me to quit my job?” I blurted, not even knowing where that question came from.
I heard her sharp intake of air on the other end of the phone. “I’m not asking you to quit your job. You love it too much.”
“I love you and Diego more.”
Silence. Nothing came from the other end.
“Are you still there?” I knew she hadn’t hung up.
“Y-yes,” she croaked out. “Carter, don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be. I can’t let my son get too attached to someone who may not come home from work one day. It’s not fair to him.”
“Why are you hiding behind Diego? What’re you lying about?” I growled, anger rising.
“I’m not hiding or lying,” she insisted. “We just need to end this now before things get too far and too complicated.”
“It’s too fucking late for that, sugar.”
“I’m going to hang up now. Please just respect my decision.”
The click on the other end of the line solidified her comments. I stood in the middle of the hallway of my firehouse, hearing the guys in the kitchen laugh at something, and I couldn’t remember a time I’d felt so alone. I looked down toward the dark, hardwood floor in front of me, just making sure that my actual heart hadn’t fallen out of my chest and lay as a bloodied stump on the ground in front of me. That might’ve been a welcomed sight in the state I was in. But it wasn’t there. No. My heart still beat in my chest. It only felt like it’d been ripped out from me, along with my entire world.
~ Chapter Eighteen ~
Michelle
“Are you happy now?” I turned, angrily swiping the tears from my eyes. I didn’t want Gabriel to see me cry, but I couldn’t stop them from coming. I blinked rapidly, fighting to pull myself together.
“I’m sure that was tough, mi corazón.”My heart.Another pet name he’d called me while we dated. But that’s exactly what he’d just forced me to tear out of my own chest. The irony. I loathed this man. The one I’d thought I loved when I was just nineteen years old. The one who lied and manipulated me, making me believe we’d be together forever. Only for me to later learn he already had a woman as his forever. I was just the stand-in when he got bored or tired of her from time to time.
“But it is for the best.” He clapped his hands. “Diego,” he called loudly to get my son’s attention. Diego’s head popped up. “Come, hijo.” Gabriel waved him over and Diego looked at me, questioningly.
I swallowed, not knowing what to tell him.
“Come to your father,” Gabriel stated impatiently.
Diego stood and walked slowly to Gabriel’s outstretched arms.
“Good boy. You will be tall like your father. Right?” Gabriel pat his back.
“Yes,” Diego mumbled, obviously uncomfortable. My usually gregarious son knew something wasn’t right. He’d never been close with Gabriel because Gabriel, bastard that he was, only took interest in Diego so he could use him to keep a hold over me.
“Good boy. And you’re doing well in school?”
Diego nodded.
“Good. Well, your mama tells me you have to get home. I’m sure she had some work she needs to complete since she had to leave the office early.” Gabriel peered at me over Diego’s head. “Put your belongings away, son.” He urged Diego back toward the couch where his backpack sat.
“As for you, let’s not have to have this conversation again,” he warned me before pressing a button on his phone.
I remained silent, too angry and heartbroken to respond.
